david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第45节
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fork； than Captain Hopkins’s comb。 The Captain himself was in
the last extremity of shabbiness； with large whiskers； and an old；
old brown great…coat with no other coat below it。 I saw his bed
rolled up in a corner； and what plates and dishes and pots he had；
on a shelf； and I divined （God knows how） that though the two
girls with the shock heads of hair were Captain Hopkins’s
children； the dirty lady was not married to Captain Hopkins。 My
timid station on his threshold was not occupied more than a
couple of minutes at most； but I came down again with all this in
my knowledge； as surely as the knife and fork were in my hand。
There was something gipsy…like and agreeable in the dinner；
after all。 I took back Captain Hopkins’s knife and fork early in the
afternoon； and went home to comfort Mrs。 Micawber with an
account of my visit。 She fainted when she saw me return； and
made a little jug of egg…hot afterwards to console us while we
talked it over。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I don’t know how the household furniture came to be sold for
the family benefit； or who sold it； except that I did not。 Sold it was；
however； and carried away in a van； except the bed； a few chairs；
and the kitchen table。 With these possessions we encamped； as it
were； in the two parlours of the emptied house in Windsor
Terrace； Mrs。 Micawber； the children； the Orfling； and myself； and
lived in those rooms night and day。 I have no idea for how long；
though it seems to me for a long time。 At last Mrs。 Micawber
resolved to move into the prison； where Mr。 Micawber had now
secured a room to himself。 So I took the key of the house to the
landlord； who was very glad to get it； and the beds were sent over
to the King’s Bench； except mine； for which a little room was hired
outside the walls in the neighbourhood of that Institution； very
much to my satisfaction； since the Micawbers and I had become
too used to one another； in our troubles； to part。 The Orfling was
likewise accommodated with an inexpensive lodging in the same
neighbourhood。 Mine was a quiet back…garret with a sloping roof；
commanding a pleasant prospect of a timberyard； and when I took
possession of it； with the reflection that Mr。 Micawber’s troubles
had come to a crisis at last； I thought it quite a paradise。
All this time I was working at Murdstone and Grinby’s in the
same common way； and with the same common companions； and
with the same sense of unmerited degradation as at first。 But I
never； happily for me no doubt； made a single acquaintance； or
spoke to any of the many boys whom I saw daily in going to the
warehouse； in coming from it； and in prowling about the streets at
meal…times。 I led the same secretly unhappy life； but I led it in the
same lonely； self…reliant manner。 The only changes I am conscious
of are； firstly； that I had grown more shabby； and secondly； that I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
was now relieved of much of the weight of Mr。 and Mrs。
Micawber’s cares； for some relatives or friends had engaged to
help them at their present pass； and they lived more comfortably
in the prison than they had lived for a long while out of it。 I used to
breakfast with them now； in virtue of some arrangement； of which
I have forgotten the details。 I forget； too； at what hour the gates
were opened in the morning； admitting of my going in； but I know
that I was often up at six o’clock； and that my favourite lounging…
place in the interval was old London Bridge； where I was wont to
sit in one of the stone recesses； watching the people going by； or to
look over the balustrades at the sun shining in the water； and
lighting up the golden flame on the top of the Monument。 The
Orfling met me here sometimes； to be told some astonishing
fictions respecting the wharves and the Tower； of which I can say
no more than that I hope I believed them myself。 In the evening I
used to go back to the prison； and walk up and down the parade
with Mr。 Micawber； or play casino with Mrs。 Micawber； and hear
reminiscences of her papa and mama。 Whether Mr。 Murdstone
knew where I was； I am unable to say。 I never told them at
Murdstone and Grinby’s。
Mr。 Micawber’s affairs； although past their crisis； were very
much involved by reason of a certain ‘Deed’； of which I used to
hear a great deal； and which I suppose； now； to have been some
former composition with his creditors； though I was so far from
being clear about it then； that I am conscious of having
confounded it with those demoniacal parchments which are held
to have； once upon a time； obtained to a great extent in Germany。
At last this document appeared to be got out of the way； somehow；
at all events it ceased to be the rock…ahead it had been； and Mrs。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Micawber informed me that ‘her family’ had decided that Mr。
Micawber should apply for his release under the Insolvent Debtors
Act； which would set him free； she expected； in about six weeks。
‘And then；’ said Mr。 Micawber； who was present； ‘I have no
doubt I shall； please Heaven； begin to be beforehand with the
world； and to live in a perfectly new manner； if—in short； if
anything turns up。’
By way of going in for anything that might be on the cards； I
call to mind that Mr。 Micawber； about this time； composed a
petition to the House of Commons； praying for an alteration in the
law of imprisonment for debt。 I set down this remembrance here；
because it is an instance to myself of the manner in which I fitted
my old books to my altered life； and made stories for myself； out of
the streets； and out of men and women； and how some main points
in the character I shall unconsciously develop； I suppose； in
writing my life； were gradually forming all this while。
There was a club in the prison； in which Mr。 Micawber； as a
gentleman； was a great authority。 Mr。 Micawber had stated his
idea of this petition to the club； and the club had strongly
approved of the same。 Wherefore Mr。 Micawber （who was a
thoroughly good…natured man； and as active a creature about
everything but his own affairs as ever existed； and never so happy
as when he was busy about something that could never be of any
profit to him） set to work at the petition； invented it； engrossed it
on an immense sheet of paper； spread it out on a table； and
appointed a time for all the club； and all within the walls if they
chose； to come up to his room and sign it。
When I heard of this approaching ceremony； I was so anxious to
see them all come in； one after another； though I knew the greater
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
part of them already； and they me； that I got an hour’s leave of
absence from Murdstone and Grinby’s； and established myself in a
corner for that purpose。 As many of the principal members of the
club as could be got into the small room without filling it；
supported Mr。 Micawber in front of the petition； while my old
friend Captain Hopkins （who had washed himself； to do honour to
so solemn an occasion） stationed himself close to it； to read it to all
who were unacquainted with its contents。 The door was then
thrown open； and the general population began to come in； in a
long file： several waiting outside； while one entered； affixed his
signature； and went out。 To everybody in succession； Captain
Hopkins said： ‘Have you read it？’—‘No。’—‘Would you like to hear
it read？’ If he weakly showed the least disposition to hear it；
Captain Hopkins； in a loud sonorous voice； gave him every word of
it。 The Captain would have read it twenty thousand times； if
twenty thousand people would have heard him； one by one。 I
remember a certain luscious roll he gave to such phrases as ‘The
people’s representatives in Parliament assembled；’ ‘Your
petitioners therefore humbly approach your honourable house；’
‘His gracious Majesty’s unfortunate subjects；’ as if the words were
something real in his mouth； and delicious to taste； Mr。 Micawber；
meanwhile； listening with a little of an author’s vanity； and
contemplating （not severely） the spikes on the opposite wall。
As I walked to and fro daily between Southwark and
Blackfriars； and lounged about at meal…times in obscure streets；
the stones of which may； for anything I know； be worn at this
moment by my childish feet； I wonder how many of these people
were wanting in the crowd that used to come filing before me in
review again； to the echo of Captain Hopkins’s voice！ When my
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
thoughts go back； now； to that slow agony of my youth； I wonder
how much of the histories I invented for such people hangs like a
mist of fancy over well…remembered facts！ When I tread the old
ground； I do not wonder that I seem to see and pity； going on
before me； an innocent romantic boy； making his imaginative
world out of such strange experiences and sordid things！
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfi
